Synopses & Reviews
Chicago and its surroundings offer hikers a rich variety of hiking options, including rugged trails, large forest preserves, and looping rivers. Because of the unique scenery around the city, hiking in Chicago is more than just a trek around town. In
Moon Take a Hike Chicago, dedicated outdoor explorer Barbara I. Bond shows you the best hikes in and around Chicagoand#151;all within two hours of the city. With details on public transportation options and clear directions on how to reach the trailhead, Bond has all the bases covered. Suggested lists of hikes include:
Best for Hiking with Children
Best Urban Hikes
Best Wildflower Hikes
Best for History Lovers
Best Bird-Watching Hikes
Best Geology Hikes
Let Moon show you all the worthwhile hikes, from short, flat routes suitable for families to day-long, steep treks for more advanced hikers. Each hike profile contains practical information including point-by-point trail navigation, contact information, facilities, fees, parking instructions, and an easy-to-use map for each trail. From East Indiana and the southwest tip of Michigan through Starved Rock State Park and up into Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine State Forest, your trip begins with Moon Take a Hike Chicago.
About the Author
Barbara I. Bond discovered her love of the outdoors at an early age. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, she camped, backpacked, and hiked in the Sierra Nevada and Santa Cruz mountains. Barbara has continued to explore the outdoors on hiking and climbing trips in France, Italy, Switzerland, Peru, and Tanzania. Domestically, she has hiked trails around the country, and has explored the West and Midwest extensively.
Barbara served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a deputy sheriff before receiving a degree in biology and chemistry from San Jose State University. She attended graduate school at University of Texas Southwestern, then moved to Chicago where she began her early exploration of the Midwest. Four years later she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she joined Mazamasand#151;a nonprofit mountaineering organizationand#151;and used her love of the outdoors to expand her freelance writing career. Barbara and her family returned to the Midwest in 2008, and she began exploring the subtle landscapes of the Prairie State once again.
In addition to hiking, climbing, and backpacking, Barbara enjoys long-distance running, biking, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing. She is an active member of her community and serves on the boards of the Geneva Park District Foundation and Geneva Green Market. She is also a member of the Mazamas and Forest Park Conservancy and a life member of Phi Kappa Phi. Barbara has published two previous outdoor books and she continues to write for various publications, including the Chicago Tribune.